France 0 Senegal 1 (Papa Bouba Diop, 29')

Wheeeeeeee! A perfect start!!!!

I'm afraid that I passed on the Opening Ceremony. I heard a little of the speeches (and Blatter being whistled at) and saw something of men with swords through their heads and heard the awful music, but decided to do other things. Besides, ITV had been handed this first game and you don't want to hang around for any longer than necessary. They had the usuals - Terry Venables and Paul Gascoigne in the studio (with Des) - John Barnes and Jim Rosenthal doing a 2 second stint pitchside - and Gaby Yorath. Worst was to come, however, in the form of a co-commentating Ron Atkinson.

Funny how these two teams came out in the draw - being both France, that is. Most of the Senegal players do their stuff in the French league and Patrick Viera was actually born in Senegal. Strange too that not many people had given Senegal a hope in this game, considering that they had been runners-up to Cameroon (much fancied dark-horses for this tournament) in the African Cup final - only missing out on a losing penalty shoot-out. They had Africa's Player of the Year too, in one El-Hadji Diouf, currently playing for Lens, but being touted by the likes of Valencia and Parma.

So, the teams came out, did the anthems (France's usual screeching dirge and Senegal's rather simplistic, stuttering rendition of Jingle Bells) and away we went. Big brutes, the Senegalese; arrogant strutters, the French. Big blokes came out tops though in almost every area! (Which one was the shoplifter?) Roger the Mare looked on pompously; Cool Metsu looked on with style. Trezeguet had an effort come back off the post on 22 minutes. Then there was a general discussion (amongst commentators) about the new ball. Apparently, it is the "roundest ball yet" and the players have complained it's too light and the goalkeepers that it swerves too much. Atkinson's comment: "They always moan when there's a new ball; the goalkeepers. Their job is just to stop it - if they were good players, they'd play out"!!

Senegal's goal, on 29 minutes, was the result of a double-blundering, by Petit and Barthez, which was just as my script would've had it! Petit tried to put the ball out for a corner; Barthez saved it and, in doing so put it directly into the path of Diop. 1-0 to France "B"!!!!! Their celebration was wonderful. Diop took his shirt off and placed it on the ground by the corner flag, and all the players danced around it!

The 2nd half went much as the 1st. Fadiga stuck the post on 64; Henry did the same on 65. France had many corners which came to nothing and Senegal frustrated them with their determination. A well-deserved victory, in my opinion! French frowns and Gallic shrugs are very much the order of the day - but that's what I was hoping for! Nil points le francais!!

It was difficult to make an accurate assessment of the boy Diouf. When he wasn't offside, he was a real nuisance to the French defenders. He generally was offside though. I would give my Man Of The Match award to Fadiga.

Shirt Comments: France's were terrible. The usual blue thing, but with the new addition of a messy neck and seemingly made out of mesh. Senegal's was white with green and yellow splodges on the sleeves (green shorts). I would think that this was their away shirt though, judging by the colourful supporters in the crowd - so look forward to seeing their home number.

Hair: Not many had any!! Best, I would award to Cisse (of Senegal) for his admirably good rendition of Mrs Tiggy-winkle. Worst? Well, Petit's should be ignored. Dugarry's was rather silly - but the winner in this category has to be Lizarazu. What was that?

Other Atkinsons: "Desailly'll wake up in the middle of the night, seeing this boy (Diouf) running around his bed."

"The right back looks like the left back playing right back".

We're told too, that on Sunday, at 10.30am, we are "having Sweden for breakfast" and "Beckham butties". Well, if their pompous-tone can be swept away a little by Sweden in the way that France's arrogance was by Senegal, I shall be more than delighted.

Teams:

France: Barthez, Thuram, Leboeuf, Desailly, Lizarazu, Wiltord (Cisse 80), Petit (booked), Djorkaeff (Dugarry 59), Vieira, Henry, Trezeguet.

Senegal: Sylva, Daf, Coly, Diao, Diouf, Papa Bouba Diop, Cisse (booked), Diatta, Pape Malick Diop, Moussa N'Diaye, Fadiga.
I don't think Senegal made any changes.

Referee: A Bujsaim (United Arab Emirates)

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